KDK: Amazon Kindle Apps are Coming
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We have all seen what Apple App Store has done for iPod Touch and iPhone. There are thousands of apps available in that store that enable Apple customers to enhance their gadgets and get more out of them. We hoped and prayed in 2008 for Amazon to smarten up and introduce an app store for Kindle. Amazon of course didn’t give us what we were hoping for with Kindle 2 or Kindle DX. But that’s all about to change as the prospect of Kindle going head to head with Apple tablet has forced Amazon’s hands. Amazon has started recruiting developers to build “iPhone type” apps for Kindle. It took Amazon two years, but the company may finally be getting it. Here is what Amazon had to say about it’s new Kindle Development Kit:
[Amazon] is inviting software developers to build and upload active content that will be available in the Kindle Store later this year. The new Kindle Development Kit gives developers access to programming interfaces, tools and documentation to build active content for Kindle–the #1 bestselling, most wished for, and most gifted product across all categories on Amazon.
We’ve heard from lots of developers over the past two years who are excited to build on top of Kindle. The Kindle Development Kit opens many possibilities–we look forward to being surprised by what developers invent.
It seems one of the first apps that we are going to see is a Zagat guide for Kindle. EA Mobile will also be developing games for Amazon Kindle:
As the leading worldwide publisher of mobile games, EA Mobile has had the privilege of collaborating with many dynamic and innovative companies in bringing exciting gaming experiences to new platforms. Working with Amazon, we look forward to bringing some of the world’s most popular and fun games to Kindle and their users.
Kindle Development Kit’s web-page is already up, and you can sign up for further notices via e-mail. But it won’t be long before we get to see new apps for Kindle. This is truly very exciting news. Amazon should have done this years ago. Waiting for Apple or other companies to raise the bar shouldn’t be an excuse for Amazon not trying new things. At the same time, the company is learning and Kindle is going to be better for it. Kindle has suddenly become much more fun.
What’s your take on Kindle apps? What apps would you like to see developed for Amazon Kindle?
